Origanum plant named ‘Bellissimo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Origanum  cultivar named ‘BELLISSIMO’ is disclosed, characterized by a controlled, attractive, dome shaped growth habit. Flowers have large dark pink floral bracts. The new cultivar is an  Origanum , typically suited for garden and ornamental container use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Origanum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘BELLISSIMO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety originated from the pollination of the seed parent, anunpatented variety of Origanum hybrid known as ‘Kent Beauty’ with thepollen parent, an unpatented variety of Origanum hybrid known as‘Barbara Tingey’ conducted by the inventor during 2009. The crossing wasmade in a commercial nursery in South Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

‘BELLISSIMO’ was first discovered by the inventor, Marcus Harvey, in2010 at the same nursery in South Hobart, Australia. The inventorobserved the new variety for three years, making the final selection ofthe variety during 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BELLISSIMO’ was firstperformed in the nursery at South Hobart, Australia by vegetative tipcuttings during 2010. ‘BELLISSIMO’ has since produced at least sixgenerations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BELLISSIMO’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bellissimo’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BELLISSIMO’ as a new and distinct Origanumcultivar:

-   -   1. Controlled, attractive dome shaped plant habit.    -   2. Deep pink bract coloration

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BELLISSIMO’ are similar to the female parent‘Kent Beauty’ in most horticultural characteristics. However,‘BELLISSIMO’ differs in producing bracts of a much deeper pink colorthan the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BELLISSIMO’ are similar to the male parent‘Barbara Tingey’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, plantsof ‘BELLISSIMO’ are dome shaped in habit, whereas plants of the pollenparent are prostrate to trailing.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BELLISSIMO’ can be compared to Origanum laevigatum ‘Lizzie’,unpatented. Plants are similar in most horticultural characteristics,however, the new variety differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has wider inflorescence    -   2. The new variety has deeper pink colored bracts.    -   3. Plants of the new variety are more mounding and compact than        plants of this comparator.

‘BELLISSIMO’ can be compared to Origanum laevigatum ‘Pilgrim’,unpatented. Plants are similar in most horticultural characteristics,however, the new variety differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has a much wider inflorescence.    -   2. Plants of the new variety are mounding and compact, plants of        this comparator are upright and approximately 80% taller than        plants of ‘Bellissimo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘BELLISSIMO’ grown outdoors in South Hobart, Australia.This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown growing in the ground.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up view of the floral bracts.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BELLISSIMO’ plants grown in a outdoors inSouth Hobart, Australia. Temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 18° C. atnight and approximately 10° C. to 30° C. during the day. No artificiallight, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to theplants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typicalplant types.

-   Botanical classification: Origanum hybrid ‘Bellissimo’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 1 year.-   Container size of the plant described: Approximately 2 liter pot.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 5 days at temperatures of 20 to 25    degrees C.-   Time to develop roots: About 20 days at temperatures of 20 to 25    degrees C.-   Root color: Youngest roots and root hairs near RHS White 155A mature    roots near Brown 200B.-   Root description: Very thin and fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Fleshy annual or tender perennial, forming an even    dome shape.-   Height: Measured from top soil line of pot, approximately 28 cm to    top of highest leaf. Approximately 35 cm to top of highest    inflorescence.-   Plant spread: Approximately 45 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Very well branched. Approximately 20 to    30 branches.-   Length of primary branches: About 30 cm.-   Diameter of primary branches: About 0.3 cm.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Cylindrical.        -   Diameter.—About 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143A.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.-   Internode length: Average range about 1.3 to 2.0 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Simple; opposite.        -   Average length.—Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate to somewhat deltate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Blunt.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Pubescent, matte.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Pubescent, matte.        -   Quantity of leaves per branch.—Approximately 15.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 137A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144A. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144A.-   Petiole: Not present, sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer. Flowering begins late    Spring and continues until Fall.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Axillary, compact cyme, large, ornamental bracts.        -   Width of entire inflorescence.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Height of entire inflorescence.—Approximately 9 cm.        -   Quantity of individual flowers in inflorescence.—Average            range 10 to 15.-   Quantity of inflorescence per plant: Average range 20 to 50.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: True flowers self-cleaning, bracts    persistent.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Flexible.-   Flowers:    -   -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 0.4 cm. Length: Approximately            0.6 cm.-   Fragrance: Moderately strong herbal scent.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—The corolla is sympetalous and typically            bilabiate with 2 small, fully fused lobes forming a single            upper lip and 3 larger fused lobes forming a lower lip.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Tip shape.—Upper lip tip obtuse, lower lip tip retuse.        -   Length.—Upper lip Approximately 0.1 cm. Lower lip            Approximately 0.2 cm. Tube length Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Width.—Upper lip: Approximately 0.3 cm, lower lip            Approximately 0.2 cm. Tube width: Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous all surfaces.-   Color: Upper Lip:    -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N81D.            Outer surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N81A, very slightly            flushed Purple N79A.        -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N81D.            Outer surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N81A.        -   Fading.—Inner surface: Near RHS Violet 84D, flushed            Purple-Violet N81A. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple 77A.-   Color: Lower Lip:    -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple N78A. Outer            surface: Near RHS Purple N78A.        -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple N78A. Outer            surface: Near RHS Purple N78B.        -   Fading.—Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72A. Outer            surface: Near RHS Purple 77A.-   Color: Tube:    -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N81C,            streaked Violet 84D. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet            N80A.        -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N80B.            Outer surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet N81A.        -   Fading.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple 75D, lightly streaked            Purple N78B. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple N78A.-   Calyx:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 3, fused to form a tube. Unfused            apex.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm unfused portion.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Texture.—Softly pubescent and ridged.        -   Color.—Immature: Near RHS Green 138B. Mature: Near RHS Green            138B.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Deltate.        -   Length.—0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 61A.-   Bracts:    -   -   Quantity.—Average 2.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Deltate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Oblique.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance.—Slightly shiny.        -   Color.—Inner Surface: Near Red-Purple 60D. Outer surface:            Near Red-Purple 60C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Reproductive organs significantly reduced and malformed. True    sterility is unknown.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds: Seed production not observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    common diseases and pets of Origanum have been observed in the new    variety.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately    4° C. to 38° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Origanum hybridplant named ‘BELLISSIMO’ as herein illustrated and described.